The 2014 Mercedes-Benz Corporate Run will take over the streets of downtown Miami Thursday, forcing several roads to shut down before the afternoon commute.

The annual 5K or 3.1 mile run/walk, known as “Florida's Largest Office Party,” is expected to draw more than 25,000 participants who will wind their way through the course.

The 6:45 p.m. race begins at Bayfront Park, 301 N. Biscayne Blvd., and takes participants south on Biscayne Boulevard, west on Southwest 13th Street, north on Southwest Second Avenue, east on Northwest First Street, north on Northeast Second Avenue, east on Northeast Fourth Street and then south on Biscayne Boulevard, back to Bayfront Park.

Miami Police spokeswoman Frederica Burden said anyone who does not need to be in the area should stay away while the race is on.

“It is going to be very difficult to get in and out,” she said.

Here is a look at the closures, which begin as early as 2 p.m.:

2 p.m.: Northbound lanes of Biscayne Boulevard, from Chopin Plaza to Northeast Fifth Street will close. There will be two southbound lanes open.

4 p.m.: Traffic will increase as participants begin to arrive.

6 p.m.: Northbound Brickell Avenue traffic will be detoured west on to Southeast Seventh Street. Only traffic going to Hotel Intercontinental and One Miami will be allowed to cross over the Brickell Bridge.

6:30 p.m.: The race course will be shut down to vehicular traffic. No traffic will be allowed in or out of the area bound on the east by Biscayne Boulevard/Brickell Avenue, on the south by Southwest 13th Street, on the west by Southwest Second Avenue and on the north by Northeast Fifth Street.

7:30 p.m.-8:45 p.m.: Roads will reopen as the last of the participants pass and the Miami Police Department deems it safe. Brickell Avenue should open by 7:30 p.m.; Miami Avenue South of the River should open by 7:45 p.m.; Southwest/Northwest Second Avenue should open by 8 p.m.; Northwest/Northeast First Street should open by 8:30 p.m.; Miami Avenue North of the River should open by 8:45 p.m. and the remaining streets should follow soon after.

Midnight.: Northbound Biscayne Boulevard will reopen to traffic.

Anyone participating in the run/walk is being asked to use Miami-Dade’s public transit system. Metrorail and Metromover will operate on a normal weekday schedule, from 5 a.m. to midnight. For prices and scheduling information visit Miami-Dade transit’s department’s website.

The actual race time is 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., but detours and lane closures in downtown Miami will begin at 2 p.m. to prepare for the 25,000-plus expected participants who will begin arriving at 4 p.m. As the last participants pass and the Miami Police Department deems it safe, most streets will re-open to traffic between 7:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. Participants are encouraged to take advantage of Metrorail and Metromover.